foto: RAILTARGET/From left: Jan Sechter, Pavel Čížek, Andrea Kneiflová, Aleš Novák, Ondřej Prokop
Transparent procurement processes, interregional cooperation, and early preparation—these are the three key conditions that Czech transport experts have agreed are necessary for fairer tenders and more affordable fares.
Public procurement in passenger rail is currently the top topic in Czech railway transport. This is underscored by multi-billion euro tenders, such as the joint procurement by Prague and the Central Bohemian Region worth EUR 5,8 billion (CZK 142 billion). For this reason, RAILTARGET magazine, the Czech Chamber of Commerce, and the FAIR RAIL association hosted a panel discussion featuring transport experts from Prague and the Plzeň Region. The experts identified three main pillars contributing to the successful execution of railway tenders. A full video of the debate is available at the end of the article.
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Point 1: Honest Market Consultations and Transparent Tender Conditions
Pavel Čížek, Deputy Governor for Transport of the Plzeň Region, pointed out the crucial role of preliminary market consultations (PTK) in public procurement. According to Čížek, these consultations allow for better definition of tender conditions and the creation of broad and fair rules that encourage the participation of as many manufacturers as possible:
"We don't want to block manufacturers with requirements like seat width, for example. We always aim for flexible conditions that everyone can adapt to," said Čížek during the debate.
Aleš Novák, advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Transport of Prague, shared this view, stating that their technical specifications are also based on detailed PTK:
"We specify a range of seating to avoid disqualifying a supplier just because their vehicle has 140 instead of 142 seats. That would not only cause complications with the Office for the Protection of Competition but would also result in economic disadvantage—forcing the region to pay more due to overly strict technical requirements," explained Novák.
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Andrea Kneiflová, lawyer and chairwoman of FAIR RAIL, confirmed the importance of PTK and proper procurement design to RAILTARGET:
"I welcome the political consensus that parameters like seat numbers must not discriminate against suppliers. More transparent procurement rules in rail tenders will boost competition and ultimately reduce fares for passengers," she said.
Point 2: Public Tenders Must Be Announced in Advance
Timely preparation is another key element in successful procurement—not only for improving PTK quality but also to give manufacturers sufficient time to build and deliver rolling stock. Deputy Governor Čížek noted that the tender for public transport services in the Plzeň Region for 2030 was already launched this year through PTK. The region uses its own transport modelling system for the full tendering period and even offers it to other public authorities.
This forward-thinking approach was praised by moderator Jan Sechter, Chairman of the Transport Section of the Czech Chamber of Commerce:
"Publishing tenders early is essential—for authorities, operators, and train builders alike. Plzeň Region sets a great example here by addressing such a major contract well in advance and in a transparent way through preliminary consultations," he told RAILTARGET after the discussion.
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Point 3: Cooperation Among Regions Strengthens Negotiation Power
Cooperation among regions and municipalities is vital—not only for PTK and experience sharing, but also for joint procurement, which enables stronger negotiation power and increased demands for quality, ultimately benefiting passengers.
"A major next step is improving cooperation between regions so we can conduct joint procurements and harmonise specifications," said Novák, adding that such efforts could lower costs, speed up manufacturing, and simplify maintenance.
This sentiment was echoed by Ondřej Prokop, Prague city councillor and chairman of the Prague ANO movement:
"I believe cooperation between regions is crucial. Events like this allow politicians and representatives to meet and exchange insights. The collaboration between Prague and the Central Bohemian Region proves such synergy is possible," he noted.
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Kneiflová also endorsed the push for regional cooperation:
"The Czech Republic still has a fragmented public procurement landscape in passenger rail. Abroad, regional and municipal consortia are common and give contracting authorities a better bargaining position. As FAIR RAIL, we would greatly welcome similar efforts here," she added.